Diaper pants



Aug. 4, 1959 P. L. COLBY DIAPER PANTS Filed Feb. 7, 1957 IN VEN TOR.

Phyllis L. Colby y ATTORNEY 7 United States Patent DIAPER PANTS Phyllis L. Colby, Sanger, Calif.

Application February 7, 1957, Serial No. 638,788 6 Claims. c1. 12s-2s4 This invention relates to that item of infant Wear known as diapers, and more particularly to such garments as adapted for use during the training directed to habituating the infant to the use of the stool or toilet, and has as an object to provide a novel and improved such garment.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved diaper pants for infants wherein security against excretory accidents is combined with facility of manipulation incident to infant training.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved diaper pants for infants characterized by economy and simplicity of construction and high facility of practical use. I

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved diaper pants for infants characterized by habitual comfort of wear and unique conveniencetof adjustrnent into and out of protective relation with the wearer. v

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved diaper pants for infants adaptable in use to provide varying degrees of absorptive protection without objectionable bulk.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved diaper pants for infants susceptible of convenient cleansing in a customary manner for repetitious use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operative combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which-'- 1 Figure l is an isometric view of the improvement of the invention in an initial stage of its production.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the improvement as completed ready for practical use.

- t Figure 3 is a plan view of the organization according to Figure 2 as initially conditioned by folding for a use within the contemplation of the invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the organization according to Figure 3 as subsequently conditioned by folding for application to a wearer.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the organization according to Figure 4 as further folded and pinned to establish the condition and relationships of actual wear.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, detail elevation on a relatively enlarged scale, partially in section and with certain Patented Aug. 4, 1959 ice while at the same time facility of diaper adjustment into and out of protective relation with the wearer is a factor significant to the progress and success of the training program and to the convenience of the trainer. Hence the instant invention is directed to the provision of a novel and improved garment combining with enhanced advantage the properties and utility of a conventional diaper and ease of manipulation into and out of protective relation with a wearer.

The improvement of the invention is initially constituted as and developed froma rectangular sheet of flexible, preferably fabric, material expediently the same as that conventionally utilized for the production of diapers, which sheet is sized in conformity with the practice of diaper production to a width equal to that of conventional diapers and a length double that of the latter. As a first step in production of the improvement, the flexible sheet above described is folded on its transverse median line to provide coextensive, superposed, marginally-registered, rectangular areas 10 and 11, corresponding in shape and size to a conventional diaper, and a seam 12 is applied inwardly adjacent and parallel to the fold line common to said areas through the material of both said areas to establish a channel therebetween along the fold line common thereto. The sheet primary to the development of the areas 10 and 11 as above set forth may be initially integral and homogeneous, as represented by the views of the drawing, or the said sheet may be a composite of unlike flexible sheet sections expediently joined on the transverse median line of the assembly to establish, when folded upon said line, areas 10 and 11- of preferred, dissimilar character in the relationship shown and described.

A length 13 of elastic webbing, or the like, is inserted in and to traverse the channel between the fold-connected margins of the areas 10 and 11 defined by the seam 12, and said elastic material, in a length less than that of the channel confining the same, is secured near its ends while in stretched condition, as by stiching 13', to the material defining the channel inwardly adjacent the ends of the latter, whereby to apply the retractile properties of the so-attached elastic material to shorten the channel length between the points at which the said length is secured with consequent folding and gathering of the channel and adjacent area material, as at 14.

The fold corners of the unit at the ends of the channel' are adapted to accommodate the attaching means, such elements broken away to disclose otherwiseconcealed as pins, snaps, and the like, employed in applying the unit to its intended use and are hence reinforced with inserts 15, of suitable firm material, secured therein, as by means of the seam 12 and stitching 13'. Facilitating repetitious use of the garment, the inserts 15, ends of the elastic material 13, and the fold material thereover may be traversed by spaced eyes, eyelets, or the like, 16 in an arrangement suited to receive safety pins therethrough, or, alternatively, snap fastener elements may be mounted on the reinforced ends of the channel for use in a customary and well understood coaction with complementary elements carried by other portions of the garment.

Completed as represented by Figure 2 and as above described, the garment is ready for use in the manner typified by Figures 3, 4 and 5, wherein it is indicated that the area 10 is the innermost lamination of the applied unit.

While the first step in arranging the garment for use as represented by Figure 3 may be omitted without impairing the utility of the improvement, such first step is promotive of practical advantage through a feature unique in the invention. To provide high absorptive capacity where most needed, and as represented by Figure 3, a free marginal zone of the area 10 remote from the rectangular flap disposed to cover approximately a central, transverse one-third of the unit area, thereby to establish a triple-ply thickness of the unit material throughout the zone covered by said flap. v

' With or without the folding according 'toFigure 3, the improved unit is applied to use as represented by Figures 4 and 5. Corners of the unit remote from the channeled fold line thereof are folded inwardly to meet, or to overlap, centrally of the unit and to establish a relatively narrower end parallel to and opposite the unit end characterized by the elastic material, as shown in Figure 4. As so folded, the unit is applied to the infant with the flap 10', or the corresponding zone, under the buttocks and the fold margin characterized by the elastic material across the small of the back, whereafter the narrower end resulting from the folding according-to Figure 4 is brought through the crotch to overlap the stomach, the fold corners carrying the inserts are brought forwardly about the waist to overlie corresponding corners of said narrower end, and the so-over-lapped corners are interconnected by pins 17, or the equivalent, engaged through the eyes or eyelets 16 is a usual manner, all without extension of the elastic material in the channel at the fold margin of the unit.

Applied and secured as described in the arrangement typified by Figure 5, the unit functions as a diaper convenient of application, removal, and reconditioning for repetitious use and without any imposition of pressure on the wearer deriving from the elastic material. However, the elastic material associated with the garment as shown and described, and the fullness of the garment material adjacent thereto, condition the applied garment to be expanded at the waist and slipped downwardly to clear the buttocks during the operations incident to training of the wearer, and to be returned to protective position, with facility and convenience, and without occasion for manipulation of fasteners or the removal of any adjuncts or apparel.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

1 claim as my invention:

l. Diaper pants of the character described comprising superposed, coextensive, rectangular areas of flexible sheet material marginally joined along one side to define independently-foldable, separately-manipulable, like sheet sections, a seam parallel to and spaced inwardly from the joined margins of said areas uniting the latter to define therebetween an open-end channel at the joined side of the areas, an elastic member of less lenth than said channel loosely traversing the major length thereof, means securing end portions of said member when in stretched condition to the walls of said channel inwardly adjacent the ends of the latter, whereby to reflect normal retraction of said member as a shortening of the channel length with consequent gathering of the area material between the secured ends of said member, and reinforcements in the channel end portions outwardly from the attachments of the elastic member thereto for coaction with diaperattaching means.

2. Diaper pants of the character described comprising superposed, coextensive, rectangular areas of flexible sheet material marginally joined along one side to define independently-f0ldable, separately-manipulable, like sheet sections, a seam parallel to and spaced inwardly from the joined margins of said areas uniting the latter to define therebetween an open-end channel at the joined side of the areas, an elastic member of less length than said channel "2,897,819 r A V,

loosely traversing the major length thereof, means securing end portions of said member when in stretched condition to the walls of said channel inwardly adjacent the ends of the latter, whereby to reflect normal retraction of said member as a shortening of the channel length with consequent gathering of the area material between the secured ends of said member, reinforcements in the channel end portions outwardly from the attachments of the elastic member thereto, and means coactable with diaper-attaching facilities carried by said reinforced channel end portions. 7

3. The organization according to claim 2, wherein the means coactable with diaper-attaching facilities are eyelets spaced apart on and to open through each said reinforcement and the associated channel material.

4. Diaper pants of the character described comprising a rectangular flexible sheet doubled on a transverse fold line to provide superposed, coextensive, rectangular areas, a seam parallel to and spaced inwardly from the fold line margin of said areas uniting the latter to define therebetween an open-end channel at the joined side of the areas, an elastic member of less length than said channel loosely traversing the major length thereof, stitching securing end portions of said member when in stretched condition to the walls of said channel inwardly adjacent the ends of the latter, whereby to reflect normal retraction of said member as a shortening of the channel length with consequent gathering of the area material between the secured ends of said member, and reinforcements fixed to the channel end portions outwardly from the attachments of the elastic member thereto for coaction with diaper-attaching means.

5. Diaper pants of the character described comprising a rectangular flexible sheet doubled on a transverse fold line to provide superposed, coextensive, rectangular areas, a seam parallelto and spaced inwardly from the fold line margin of said areas unitingthe latter to define therebetween an open-end channel at the joined side of the areas, an elastic member of less length than said channel loosely traversing the major length thereof, stitching securing end portions of said member when in stretched condition to the walls of said channel inwardly adjacent the ends of the latter, whereby to reflect normal retraction of said member as a shortening of the channel length with consequent gathering of the area material between the secured ends of said member, reinforcements fixed to the channel end portions outwardly from the attachments of the elastic member thereto, and eyelets coactable with diaper-attaching pins spaced apart on and to open through each said reinforcement and the associated channel material.

6. Diaper pants of the character described comprising superposed, coextensive, rectangular, flexible sheet areas marginally joined at one side to define an open-end channel therealong as the conjunction of independently-foldable, separately-manipulable, like sheet sections, an elastic member of less length than said channel loosely within the latter between attachment of the member end portions to walls of the channel inwardly adjacent the channel ends, whereby to normally shorten the channel length and gather the area material therealong, and reinforcements coactable with diaper-attaching facilities fixed to the channel end portions outwardly from the attachments of the said member thereto.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,620,798 OBrien Dec. 9,v 1952 2,801,632 Burner et al. Aug. 6, 1957 r V FOREIGN PATENTS 734,994- Great Aug. 10, 1955 

